“Por vida” in Spanish usually means “for life” or “lifelong,” depending on context. A more common phrase is “de por vida,” which means “for life” or “forever.”

How it’s used

  • De por vida = lifelong, permanent, for the rest of one’s life.
  • It can be used in positive or negative ways, like a lifelong promise or a lifelong problem.
  • Example: “Somos hermanas por vida” means “We’re sisters for life.”

Quick note

If you saw just “por vida” by itself, it may be shorthand or slang, but in standard Spanish people usually say “de por vida.”

TL;DR: “Por vida” usually points to “for life,” and “de por vida” is the standard phrase for “lifelong” or “forever.”